Houthis raid houses, clash with locals in northern Sana'a

Forces loyal to the Houthi group and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh stormed on Saturday Dharwan village in Hamdan district, north of the capital, Sana'a, and abducted nine civilian opponents.

Local residents and eyewitnesses told Almasdaronline that the pro-Houthi/Saleh forces raided the village in an attempt to abduct a son of Obad Hamoud Azzan. But several locals took up arms and stood on the way.

A villager said that a shootout ensued between the locals and the the pro-Houthi/Saleh forces, and led to the injury of Abdullah, the son of Obad Hamoud Azzan.

However, pro-Houthi/Saleh reinforcement troops were sent aboard four pick-up trucks, and were deployed around the village, blocking its all entrances; several troops stormed the houses while others were deployed to Khat farms outside the village, according to the villager.

He also said that the pro-Houthi/Saleh troops "cordoned tue house of Obad Azzan and his farm, and shot fire nearby in an attempt to force the women out of the house and blow it up. But the women did not leave the house, and the troops had to back out.

According to the villagers, the raid that was led by pro-Houthi locals from the village itself has resulted in the abduction of nine local people, including: 1- Saleem Abdullah Saad; 2- Hamdan Obad Azzan; 3- Mohammed Hamoud Azzan; 4- Nasser Hamoud Azzan; and 5- Abdul Karim Saeed Azzan.

The Houthis have always accused their opponents of being "Takfiris".

The wounded local, the villagers said, is currently being hospitalized in Sana'a city, with pro-Houthi troops watching the room.